David Greenwood, former UCLA star and NBA champion, dies at 68 after cancer battle
FILE - Former UCLA standout, David Greenwood, talks about his career during a National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame induction event on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley, File)
FILE - Boston Celtics' Kevin McHale (32) drives as David Greenwood (34) of the Chicago Bulls attempts to catch up during NBA action in Chicago, Nov. 18, 1980. (AP Photo/Fred Jewell, File)
FILE - Boston Celtics' Kevin McHale (32) drives as David Greenwood (34) of the Chicago Bulls attempts to catch up during NBA action in Chicago, Nov. 18, 1980. (AP Photo/Fred Jewell, File)
FILE - Former UCLA standout, David Greenwood, talks about his career during a National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame induction event on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley, File)
FILE - Boston Celtics' Kevin McHale (32) drives as David Greenwood (34) of the Chicago Bulls attempts to catch up during NBA action in Chicago, Nov. 18, 1980. (AP Photo/Fred Jewell, File)
LOS ANGELES (AP) — David Greenwood, who was one of coach John Wooden's last recruits at UCLA and went on to win an NBA championship with Detroit during a 12-year pro career, has died. He was 68.
Greenwood died Sunday in Riverside, California, after battling cancer, the school said Wednesday, citing family members.
Advertisement
After a standout career at Verbum Dei High in Los Angeles, Greenwood began his college career at UCLA just months after Wooden's surprise retirement announcement in March 1975.
He averaged 14.8 points and 8.7 rebounds in 118 games as a four-year starter in Westwood. The Bruins had a record of 102-17 and won the league title in each of his four seasons. He was a two-time league player of the year who helped the Bruins to the 1976 Final Four.
Greenwood earned first-team All-America honors as a junior and senior, becoming UCLA's first player to do so since Bill Walton in 1972-74. He still ranks fourth on the school's career rebounding list.
He was the second overall pick in the 1979 NBA draft. The Chicago Bulls lost the coin toss to the Los Angeles Lakers, who drafted future Hall of Famer Magic Johnson at No. 1, having acquired the pick in a trade with New Orleans.
Advertisement
Before Michael Jordan arrived in Chicago in 1984, Greenwood, Reggie Theus and Orlando Woolridge were the Bulls' core players. After six seasons, the Bulls traded Greenwood in 1985 to San Antonio in exchange for future Hall of Famer George Gervin.
Greenwood also played for San Antonio, Denver and Detroit, coming off the bench to help the Pistons beat Portland to win the 1990 NBA championship.
He was a member of the Pac-12 Hall of Honor and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Last year, Greenwood attended UCLA's final Pac-12 Conference game at Pauley Pavilion.
Greenwood later coached at his high school alma mater, leading Verbum Dei to state titles in 1998 and 1999.
He is survived by son Jemil and daughter Tiffany as well as his brother Al, sister Laverne and former wife Joyce.
___
AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
16 minutes ago
- Associated Press
After 2 straight missed cuts in majors, Brooks Koepka is in early contention at Oakmont
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Brooks Koepka admitted he's owed his share of apologies over the past couple months. Missing the cut at majors doesn't sit well with him. 'I would say from the first weekend in April until about last week, you didn't want to be around me,' he said Thursday after the first round of the U.S. Open. 'It drove me nuts. It ate at me. I haven't been happy. It's been very irritating.' Koepka's mood should be better if he can produce three more rounds like this. He shot a 2-under 68 at Oakmont, which left him in a tie for third, two strokes behind leader J.J. Spaun. Koepka made a 42-foot putt for eagle on the par-5 fourth, and after falling back to even par, he finished with birdies on Nos. 17 and 18. 'I thought I played pretty consistent, drove it really well. Iron play was pretty good. When I did miss it, I felt like I missed it in the correct spots. A couple of good bunker shots,' Koepka said. 'I'm really happy with the way I finished, and hopefully it leads into tomorrow.' Koepka missed the cut at both the Masters and PGA Championship this year. He owns five major titles, but he hasn't finished in the top 10 in one since winning the PGA Championship in 2023 at Oak Hill. His last LIV Golf victory was August of last year. So he's had plenty of reasons to be frustrated. And his coach, Pete Cowan, has had reasons to be exasperated with him. Koepka said Cowan gave him a good scolding in a bunker Monday. '(Justin Thomas) thought he had to come check on me in the bunker. We were in there for about 45 minutes, and he was on the other side of the green,' Koepka said. 'I wasn't happy with it, but it was something I think you need to hear or I needed to hear at the right time. It's not the first time he's done it.' That honesty is important to Koepka. 'I don't like having 'yes' people around me. I just want somebody to tell me the truth, tell me what's going on, what they see,' he said. 'If I start swaying from being Brooks Koepka, then I want someone to call me out on it.' On a day when only 10 players shot under par — and only two finished ahead of Koepka — there was plenty to be pleased with. 'I feel good. It's nice to put a good round together. It's been a while,' Koepka said. 'I've been working hard, just got into some bad habits and bad swing positions. We worked pretty hard last week.' ___ AP golf:
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Knicks' Jalen Brunson talks firing of Tom Thibodeau, what former coach has meant to his career
It's been more than a week since the Knicks fired head coach Tom Thibodeau, and while the basketball world and players like Josh Hart have voiced their thoughts on the job Thibodeau has done for the team, we haven't heard from team captain Jalen Brunson. Brunson was very close to Thibodeau, with his father Rick Brunson working as Thibodeau's assistant with the Bulls, Timberwolves and Knicks. When the Knicks were ousted from the NBA Playoffs after Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Brunson defended his coach when asked about Thibodeau's ability to get this team over the top. Advertisement However, the organization decided to go in a different direction and Brunson has finally spoken for the first time after the decision on the June 12 episode of the Roommates Show, his podcast with Hart. Both players spoke about the firing and what Thibodeau meant to them. 'We want to give a shoutout to Thibs, man, you know, especially for myself,' Hart started. 'He helped make me into the player I am. I had a lot of instability in the early part of my career and he gave me that stability and that opportunity to flourish as a player in the league, a starter in the league, so I'm always going to be forever grateful for him. "This is always a tough part of the NBA because you grow relationships not just on the court but off the court and personal relationships, so I always got love for him. It's always tough when there's a coaching change." Brunson, who was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks and only had a coach change on him once when Rick Carlisle resigned to sign with the Pacers, so this is uncharted territory for the All-Star guard. Brunson chose to highlight what Thibodeau has done for his career since signing with New York. Advertisement 'This is my first firing. Obviously, I've known him my entire life, but I remember having conversations and moments with him in 8th grade when we moved to Chicago. And to see where he helped me become two-time All-Star, two-time All-NBA. The things he's done for me individually, I'm so grateful for," Brunson said. "He had that confidence in me that I knew I had, but it's great to see someone push me to be better…. to have Thibs, and to do what he did for my career, I'm so grateful and thankful for. Not enough things can be said about what he's meant to myself and my career.' When both were asked if they had any inkling that the firing would happen or if Thibodeau was on the hot seat, Hart who has had multiple coaching changes in his eight-year career, put it best. "We had a really good year. It didn't end how we wanted it to end. Sometimes when the season doesn't end the way you expect it to, there's always changes. Whether that's coaches, players," Hart said. "Thibs is my sixth coach in eight years. The NBA coaching profession is tough. Whenever you don't finish the way you expect, there's always gonna be changes. That one was a tough one. There should be nothing but praise for him and his time in New York.' 'I agree. 100 percent,' Brunson responded. Advertisement Thibodeau joined the Knicks ahead of the 2019-20 season, and in five seasons, he amassed a 226-174 record in the regular season, going 24-23 in the playoffs. He coached the Knicks to the playoffs in four of his five seasons, had back-to-back 50-win seasons and took New York to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years. Whoever becomes the next coach of the Knicks will have big shoes to fill. "[Thibodeau] took that job when the Knicks were just buns," Hart, who was traded to the Knicks in 2023, said. "They were 20 wins. He got that job for five years, made the playoffs in four years, first Eastern Conference Finals in 25 years. He helped Knicks basketball go back to the top level in the league. He should get a lot of credit for the foundation that he built."
Yahoo
20 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Scottie Scheffler has frustrating day at the US Open to fall 7 shots off the pace
Scottie Scheffler lines up a putt on the first hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Scottie Scheffler tees off on the 16th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Scottie Scheffler tees off on the 13th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Scottie Scheffler reacts after missing a putt on the 15th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Scottie Scheffler reacts to his putt on the first hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Scottie Scheffler reacts to his putt on the first hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Scottie Scheffler lines up a putt on the first hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Scottie Scheffler tees off on the 16th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Scottie Scheffler tees off on the 13th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Scottie Scheffler reacts after missing a putt on the 15th hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) Scottie Scheffler reacts to his putt on the first hole during the first round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Oakmont Country Club Thursday, June 12, 2025, in Oakmont, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler kept coming back to the same answer when asked in different ways how a day that began with optimism at the U.S. Open turned into a 5 1/2-hour slog that left him well off the front page of the leaderboard. 'I've probably got to give myself a few more looks,' the world's top-ranked player said Thursday after a 3-over 73 left him seven shots behind front-runner J.J. Spaun. Advertisement Scheffler was talking about looks for reasonable birdie putts. Those didn't happen nearly enough during 5 1/2 often arduous hours at Oakmont. As for plain old 'looks,' however, well the three-time major winner had those in abundance. Looks of frustration, like when his drive on the par-5 12th landed in the middle of a fairway that slopes massively from left to right and kept rolling, and rolling, and rolling until it was in the first cut of the course's signature ankle-deep rough. Looks of bafflement, like when his 6-foot par putt at the par-3 13th slid by, causing him to put his hand over his mouth and turn to caddie Ted Scott as if to say, 'What just happened?' Looks of anger, like when his wedge from 83 yards on the easy (by Oakmont standards) par-4 14th landed 40 feet past the hole. Scheffler slammed the club into the ground before collecting himself to two-putt. Advertisement Looks of annoyance. When his 12-foot birdie attempt at the par-4 17th lipped out, Scheffler bent over, pressed his hands on his knees and appeared to sigh before standing back up. That doesn't even include what he described as 'sloppy' bogeys on the par-4 third and par-5 fourth, when he found the sand off the tee. It added up to tying his worst opening round in a major ever. He did that at the 2021 Masters, a year before he began a run of dominance not seen since Tiger Woods' prime two decades ago. Heck, he even managed a 1-under 69 at Oakmont as a 19-year-old amateur in 2016. Nine years later, Scheffler's life is very different. When he walked out of the scoring area in the late spring twilight, toddler son Bennett and wife Meredith and other members of his family were waiting. Advertisement The course, however, remains the same physically and mentally draining task it has always been. There's a reason Scheffler teed off at 1:25 p.m. and didn't tap in for par on 18 until 6:52 p.m. even though there wasn't a hint of rain, or wind or any other external factors to gum up the works. There was only Oakmont being Oakmont. The fairways that Spaun navigated to a 4-under 66 in the morning dried up throughout the kind of muggy, sun-baked day that's been uncommon during Western Pennsylvania's very cool and very wet spring. Scheffler only made two putts over 10 feet, none over the final seven holes and three-putted the par-3 13th. How? He has no idea. Yet he also knows one middling round doesn't necessarily ruin his chances of winning the third leg of the grand slam. Advertisement Play a little 'sharper' in the second round, and he thinks he might be in a better position come the weekend. 'When you're playing these types of tests that are this challenging, there's usually still a way to score," he said. He might to find them sooner rather than later. In each of Scheffler's 16 PGA Tour victories, he found himself inside the top 30 after 18 holes. He'll be outside that number when he puts his tee in the ground at No. 10 on Friday morning to start his second round. 'I'll clean up some of those mistakes, a couple three putts and stuff like that,' he said. 'And I think tomorrow will be a better day.' ___ AP golf:
